Page 16 of Forsaken Desire (Ruthless Wolves #1)

Maybe it was a good thing I didn’t remember anything from my past.

After all, with the drugs that had been found in my bloodstream—and with me in the driver’s seat—it had been clear cut for the authorities.

All sorts of accusations had been thrown my way, and all I’d been able to do was take them.

They painted an accurate picture at court. I’d gotten doped up and taken off. My father had tried to stop me, but in my state, I’d swerved and hit the side of a railing and rammed into a tree.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked near my ear. I stiffened, hating having his breath on my neck.

“Yeah.” I pressed my lips into a thin line.

I hadn’t touched the stuff since, and I never would. I rubbed my arms to calm my nerves. Turning over a new leaf was my only option, and I would succeed, especially now that I had a mate. A lovely, sweet mate who coddled me. Butterflies assaulted my stomach at the thought of Lucian.

“No, we are not.” The snarl ripped through the audience. I stiffened. That voice. I looked to the front of the room, but I couldn’t see anything over the heads of the people in front of me.

I pushed to my feet to peek at the stage.

Cierra caught my attention first. She didn’t look even a little happy. She bared her neck, her body almost curved toward the ground. Her attention was fixed on a wide-shouldered male on the stage.

On the platform at the front was my mate.

“Joey?” Alex whispered, hand on my hip. I was so stunned I didn’t swat him away.

My Lucian . . . But why was Cierra standing next to him like she had a place there?

I staggered back, plopping onto the chair.

My ears rang, but even through the noise, all I could focus on was my mate’s voice.

“This will be the last unsanctioned meeting you ever call. Everyone out,” he roared. I stiffened at the bellow. So quickly, everyone stood and started to shuffle out. Big shifters, small shifters, young adults, they fled like they were being chased.

I didn’t move an inch, so utterly confused. Alex watched me, his focus on me like an eagle focused on prey.

A guy with piercing blue eyes walked up behind him. The crowd swarmed around the blockage I caused by not moving.

“What’s with Wilder?” Blue Eyes said.

“Not right now, Dillon.” I lifted my gaze to Dillon’s in time to see irritation flash through his gaze.

“And who is this?” He raised an eyebrow at me and grinned, sidling closer. He stuck his hand out, and mechanically, I grabbed it, not knowing what was what. “New meat?”

The grin didn’t have the effect he obviously expected, because I only blinked at him. He pushed forward a bit more, invading my space. I stiffened my spine and dropped my hand from his, keeping still, but not backing away caused my boobs to rub up against him.

“Back up,” Alex snapped.

His eyebrows twitched up.

Dillon didn’t listen, and I didn’t back away from him either. I gritted my teeth, glaring up at him. The shock was slowly beginning to subside. He leaned close and sniffed near my neck.

He groaned.

“You can’t expect to have no competition, Alex, not with a beauty like this.”

While they argued, I poked my head around him. Lucian still stood on the stage, saying something to Cierra, standing much too close to her for my liking. My stomach somersaulted like it was trying out for the Olympics.

Dillon invaded my space again, bumping into me from how Alex was now pressing against him.

“Back the fuck off, man,” Alex shouted and shoved Dillon, who staggered back with a snarl.

I didn’t care about their little spat; my attention returned to my fated mate. He turned toward us, and his hazel eyes clashed with mine and widened.

Some part of me was desperately hoping it was some twist. That he wasn’t Lucian, that he was a twin. Or something . Anything.

But no, I didn’t get my way, because there was sheer awareness on his chiseled, aristocratic features.

He stormed in our direction, and I froze, my heart thundering in my ears. I backed up and bumped into a chair.

A large hand, different, so so different than my mate’s, curled around my hip.

Dillon had grabbed my waist! I didn’t have a chance to open my mouth.

Another snarl ripped through the auditorium, and when I turned back around, a large black wolf barreled toward me.

I closed my eyes, freezing as screaming erupted. The touch on me was ripped away.

“Stop!” Dillon shrieked, and I peeked through squinted eyes. Lucian’s large wolf form had his maw around Dillon’s arm. He shook his head from side to side, and blood flew everywhere. I could only gasp, the sounds fading in and out of my reality.

With a final yank to the side, Lucian ripped Dillon’s hand off his arm, leaving behind mauled meat. He lowered his head, and the hand thumped on the ground. Dillon used his heels to push back. Lucian stalked him, head lowered, saliva and blood dripping from his jaws.

“Stop!” Cierra shouted, stepping in front of Dillon. Lucian growled and snapped at her, catching her leg. She yelped, pulling away so fast that it tore flesh out of her leg. She limped out of the way, leaving the path to Dillon open.

Alex took Cierra’s place.

“Stop, Lucian,” he snapped, but his gaze remained lowered. Lucian’s chest puffed, and a growl rumbled in his chest.

He would kill Alex. As touchy as he was, I didn’t want Lucian murdering his brother.

“Stop,” I croaked. It was what I needed to burst into action. I ran in front of Alex and put my hands out. “Lucian.”

He finally stilled, and his tail moved the slightest bit.

“Just stop,” I gritted out through my teeth. The fur on the back of his neck stood upright.

“Joey, I’m going to get—” Lucian’s snarl cut Alex off, and I took a step toward the wolf.

“Shift back.” I lifted my chin, keeping hold of his eyes. The yellow gaze seemed more intense in his wolf form. He chuffed.

“Don’t get too close, Joe?—”

Lucian snapped his teeth in my direction and pounced. A mass of fur tackled me to the ground, and I landed on the carpet with a huff.

“Jo—”

Lucian growled, and I bunched a tuft of his fur on his chest.

“Just go!” I shouted.

Lucian stayed over my body, growling like he was protecting a bone. I rolled my head to the side in time to see them leave. Cierra peered back, her eyes full of tears, before she disappeared with Dillon leaning between Alex and her.

The fur in my grip receded into his flesh, and bones popped. The shift happened so fast, I didn’t see his muzzle disappear because the next moment, he leaned over me, his lower half pinning mine.

I’d never seen a shift, or maybe I had, but not one I remembered.

The bond between us hummed like a warmth in my chest.

Lucian buried his nose in my neck. He groaned, his shaft swelling against my leg. His vanilla scent enveloped me. I didn’t need any help getting turned on; I was already there.

The discomfort between my legs was only made worse by his thigh between them.

“Mine,” he snarled against my throat. My hips lifted for more pressure against my core.

He overwhelmed my senses. I lifted my hands and speared them into his hair, not knowing if I wanted to push him away or pull him closer.

He rose over me and moved his hips so he nestled between my legs, causing the bottom of my dress to pool around my waist. “Mine.”

He was as much mine as I was his. He moved with jerky, violent movements and yanked down my panties.

“Lucian,” I breathed.

He shoved his finger into me.

“My mate has such a wet pussy.” His guttural words caused me to lift my hips, shoving his finger deeper.

“We shouldn’t?—”

He thrust his fingers again, working another into my channel.

The pressure elevated, and I panted. He lowered his head, the front of his inky hair falling onto his forehead.

He was so damn hot, even his display of violence had turned me on.

Even though shifters had assimilated, at our foundation, we were originally wolves.

And his action, his protection, proved he would keep me safe. A true Alpha.

He leaned down, the tip of his aristocratic nose grazing against mine. Blood stained his cheek and below his lips, but all I could focus on was the overwhelming need fluttering deep in my belly.

Lucian curved his hand, and another finger ground against my clit. I pressed my mouth into a thin line, cutting off my scream. My spine arched off the floor. Fire blazed through my stomach, the desire so intense, I struggled to remain quiet.

“Don’t hide your moans, Princess.” Lucian chuckled: low, deep, and spine tinglingly, his fingers twisting inside me.

I couldn’t if I tried.